Justice News

Indianapolis Man Sentenced for Transportation
and Possession of Child Pornography

Michael Wildridge, 41, pleaded guilty today to transportation and possession of child pornography and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Wildridge, a resident of Indianapolis, was also sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker to lifetime supervised release following completion of his prison term and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

During today’s plea and sentencing hearing, Wildridge admitted to sending child pornography to other individuals using the Internet and to possessing thousands of visual depictions of prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including images depicting sadistic and masochistic conduct. Wildridge also admitted to collecting child pornography for nine years.

The case against Wildridge was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. DeBrota of the Southern District of Indiana and Trial Attorney Bonnie L. Kane of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). The case was investigated by ICE Indianapolis, the Hamilton County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Indiana State Police, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI Miami Field Office and CEOS’s High Technology Investigative Unit.